Tube clamp assembly



Aug. 20, 1968 w. R. WALKER TUBE CLAMP ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled Jan. 12, 1965 INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. WALKER AT TORNEYS Aug. 20, 1968w. R. WALKER TUBE CLAMP ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan.12, 1965 IIIIII/IIIIIJ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,397,431 TUBECLAMP ASSEMBLY William R. Walker, Warren, Mich., assignor to Hydro-Craft Inc., Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 425,014, Jan. 12, 1965. This application May 12,1967, Ser. No. 639,591 7 Claims. (Cl. 24-125) This application is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 425,014 filed J an. 12, 1965, andnow abandoned.

This invention relates generally to the tube clamp art, and moreparticularly, to a multiple tube clamping assembly adapted to support aplurality of tubes or similar items in rigid fixed positions.

It is well known in the tube clamp art to employ various means forretaining a plurality of tubes, or the like, in fixed positions. Forexample, ablock of metal in which holes have been drilled, or a die castblock which has holes formed therein and which has been split and thetubes disposed in the holes and clamped therein by securing the splitportions of the die cast block together. A disadvantage of theaforemetioned prior art clamps is that the spacing of the tube holes isnot equal. This unequal spacing of the tube holes is a disadvantagebecause it is easier for a workman to install the necessary hydraulictubing and fittings for hydraulic tanks and machines when the holespacings are equal. When the tube holes ore not equally spaced, it alsomeans that the workman using such prior art clamping means must workwith fractional dimensions and this is another disadvantage. Stillanother disadvantage of the prior art tube clamping devices is that thedie cast metal is heavy and cannot be welded to machines or tanks uponwhich the clamps are to be mounted, which means that time consumingdrilling and tapping operations must be accomplished, and a baseprovided for mounting the clamp on the machine, tank, or the like. Afurther disadvantage of the prior art tube clamping devices is the factthat they are limited to a clamp length equal to the die which forms thedie cast clamp. A further disadvantage of the prior art tube' clamps isthat, if the aforementioned die cast clamps are not available, theworkman must fabricate some sort of a tube bracket on the job, whichcalls for various machine operations such as drilling, sawing and thelike.

In view of the foregoing, it is an important object of the presentinvention to provide a novel and improved multiple clamping apparatuswhich is economical of manufacture, compact in construction, light inweight and etficient in operation.

It isanother object of the present invenion to provide a novel andimproved multiple clamp assembly which is adapted to hold a plurality oftubes or the like in fixed positions, and in evenly'spaced apartpositions, to facilitate connection of the tubes with axially disposedtubes by means of suitable fittings.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved multiple clamp assembly which may be made in various lengths,or which can be quickly and easily cut to any desired length on the job,and which can be welded to a tank, machine or the like in a quick andeasy manner.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a noveland improved multiple clamp assembly which comprises a pair of stampedmembers having a substantially U-shaped cross section with half-roundholes formed by a stamping process along the edges of the walls of theU-shape, and which two stamped members may be quickly and easilyassembled to rigidly secure a plurality of tubes in place. The clampassembly includes a resilient split grommet having holes smaller indiameter than the diameter of the tube, and which surrounds the tubespassing through the clamp assembly, and assists in clamping the tubes inplace and protecting the tubes against vibration, and wherein the tubeholes in the grommets may be varied to permit the selective clamping ofvarious size tubes in the same clamp assembly.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, andthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a multiple clamp assembly made inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated inFIG. 1, taken along the line 2-2 thereof, and looking in the directionof the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an elevational, sectional view of the structure illustrated inFIG. 1, taken along the line 33 thereof, and looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIG. 4 is an elevational perspective view of a portion of the multipleclamp assembly of FIG. 1, and showing the parts separated to illustratethe structure of the clamp assembly;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational,sectional view of the structure illustrated inFIG. 5, taken along the line 6-6 thereof, and looking in the directionof the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4,the numerals 9 and 10 generally indicate two sections of a multipleclamp assembly made in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention. Each of the clamp sections 9 and 10 is made from a pair ofU-shaped channel bars which are disposed with the open ends thereofadjacent each other so as to form a substantially rectangular, elongatedtubular member.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the upper clamp section 10 includes anupper channel bar which comprises the top end Wall 11 that forms thebight portion of the channel bar and the integral side walls 12 and 13.The lower channel bar of the upper clamp section is similarly formed andincludes the bottom end wall 14 and the integral spaced apart side walls15 and 16.

The lower clamp section 9 includes an upper channel bar which comprisesthe top end wall 17 that forms the bight portion of the channel bar andthe integral side walls 18 and 19. The lower channel bar of the lowerclamp section is formed similarly and includes the bottom end wall 20and the integral spaced apart side walls 20 and 21.

As shown in FIG. 4 the lower edge of the upper channel bar side walls 12and 13 are parallel and are indicated by the numerals 23 and 24. Theupper edges of the mating channel bar side walls 15 and 16 are indicatedby the numerals 25 and 26. As best seen in FIG. 4,

the channel side walls 12 and 13 are each provided along the lower endsthereof with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart inwardlyextended semi-circular or half round holes 27. The semi-circular holes27 have extended perpendicularly outward therefrom semi-circular flangesor clamp seats 28. The side walls 15 and 16 on the lower channel bar ofthe upper clamp section are also provided with similar semi-circularholes 29 which are bounded by the perpendicular outwardly extendedsemi-circular flanges 30. The flanges 30 from seats for clamping thegrommet members 38 in place, more fully described hereinafter.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper channel bar of the lower clampsection 9 is similarly provided with a plurality of semi-circular holesalong the lower side thereof in spaced apart positions as indicated bythe numerals 31, and they are bounded by similar perpendicular outwardlyextended flanges 32.

The lower channel bar of the lower clamp section 9 is similarly providedwith semi-circular holes 33 and the perpendicular flanges 34. In FIG. 1the numerals 35, 36, and 37 indicate the center lines of the circularclamping holes or seats formed by the flanges and the last describedsemi-circular holes in the two-clamp sections.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, a tubular grommet 38 is adapted to bemounted in each of the transverse clamping seats formed by a set of fourof the last-described semi-circular holes and flanges. The grommets 38are made from any suitable oil-resistant resilient material, as forexample Neoprene rubber or the like. These grommets assist in reducingvibration or shock to the tubes held in the clamp means. The durometerrating of these grommets should be suflicient to maintain the positionof the tubes held within the clamp means and yet reduce vibration asmuch as possible. A preferable durometer number is 80. The numeral 39indicates the longitudinal hole formed through the grommet 38. Thegrommet 38 is provided with a longitudinal split or slot indicated bythe numeral 40 to permit the grommet to be squeezed and to grip a tube41 in a firm and rigid clamping engagement. As shown in FIG. 4 the largeinternal surface areas of the flanges 28 and 30 provide a large surfacearea for engaging and squeezing the grommet without cutting the grommet.It will be understood that the grommets may also be made from anysuitable synthetic material.

As shown in FIG. 1 the grommet 38 is provided with a first size hole 39while the other grommets 42 and 44 are provided with successivelysmaller holes therethrough for clamping therein successfully smallersizes tubes 43 and 45. The grommets 42 and 44 are also provided withslots 40.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the lower clamp section 9 is also providedwith a plurality of grommets 46, 48, and 50 for clamping in place thevarious sized tubes 47, 49, and 51 in the same manner as the upper clampsection 10.

The clamp sections 9 and are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 as being securedtogether by a plurality of elongated bolts 52 which pass through theholes 53 in the lower channel bar walls and 14 and the holes 54 in theupper channel walls 17 and 11. Each of the bolts 52 is provided with alocking nut 55. It will be understood that if it is desired to securedmore than two clamp sections together in accordance with the particularjob involved that the bolts 52 may be longer in order to secure togetherany desired number of clamping sections.

A slightly modified species of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.The parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 which are the same as thefirst-described embodiment are marked with the same reference numeralsfollowed by the small letter a. As is best seen in FIG. 6, the secondembodiment includes a slightly modified grommet 3811 which is providedwith a peripherally disposed, outwardly extended locating rib 56 whichis provided with the shoulders or radial walls, or radial surfaces 57and 58 on the opposite sides thereof. The advantage of the structure ofthe second embodiment is that the rib or the shoulder 56 is easier toassemble in place in the clamping sections since it fits inside of theside walls of the respective channel bar members, and it assists inmating the channel bar parts together when assembling a plurality ofclamp sections. The shoulder or rib 56 thus provides a self-aligningfunction or characteristic to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6.

It will be seen that all of the semi-circular holes in the variouschannel bar portions are evenly spaced to provide evenly spaced tubeclamping holes. For example the holes are preferably spaced about oneand one-half inches apart. Experience has shown that it is best to keepan even spacing between the tubes so that the workman can quickly andeasily assemble a plurality of conventional fittings on the tubingswhich are necessary when setting up a hydraulic system. When the tubesare evenly spaced apart it is easy for the men to use the standard partsas unions, couplings, and the like. Experience has also shown that thechannel bars which form the clamping sections may be made to any desiredlength and then cut to the desired job length when assembling the clampsections in place. This is an advantage because the workman sometimesdoes not know until he gets on a job exactly how many tubes are going tobe necessary to complete a job. The clamp channel bars are alsopreferably made from soft rolled steel whereby they can be quickly andeasily welded to the equipment to which the tubes are being assembledwithout wasting time drilling holes through an expensive stamping.

It will be seen that by providing grommets with various sized internalholes, that any number of different sized tubes can be clamped in thesame clamp section in a quick and easy manner. It will be understoodthat the clamp means of the present invention can be used for clampingmany types of tubes in place, as for example hydraulic tubing,electrical conduits, and the like. These tubes run from a maximumdiameter of approximately down to a minimum of about A". All the tubesin this range can be easily accommodated in the clamp means of thepresent invention. The slot 41 in the grommet permits the clamp means tobe mounted on any system that is already piped and assembled and whichneeds additional clamps. The provision of the evenlyspaced centers ofthe mounting or clamping holes permits the installer to easily figurefrom the center line of one tube to another without going into odddimensions and frac ions. The evenly-spaced centers also permit thestacking of tubes in layers which simplifies installations. The tubularconstruction of the channel bars provides a clamp which is lighter inweight than any of the prior art clamps.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of theinvention herein disclosed are Well calculated to fulfill the objectsabove stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptibleto modification, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a clamp assembly, the combination comprising:

(a) a pair of aligned U-shaped elongated members disposed with onemember inverted and on top of the other;

(b) each of said U-shaped members having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls;

(0) each of said side walls of each U-shaped member being provided witha plurality of longitudinally spaced apart, semi-circular holes alongthe free edges thereof;

(d) the semi-circular holes in the one U-shaped member being alignedwith the semi-circular holes in the other U-shaped member to form aplurality of pairs of transversely spaced circular holes;

(e) a tubular grommet seated in each of the circular holes and extendedtransversely of the U-shaped members;

(f) means for securing the clamping members together;

and,

(g) each of the semi-circular holes in the U-shaped members having alaterally extending grommet engaging flange thereabout dimensioned sothat the ends of the grommets will be compressed thereby againstassociated tubes when the clamping members are secured together.

2. The clamp assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) each of the tubular grommets is provided with a longitudinallyextended slot through the sidewalls thereof.

3. The clamp assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) each of the tubular grommets is provided with a peripherallydisposed, radially extended shoulder 5 adapted to be seated between theside walls of the U-shaped elongated members. 4. The clamp assembly asdefined in claim 1, wherein: (a) at least some of the grommets are eachprovided with a different sized hole therethrough. 5. The clamp assemblyas defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) the semi-circular holes in theU-shaped elongated members are evenly spaced apart from each other. 6.The clamp assembly as defined in claim 1, including: (a) at least asecond pair of U-shaped elongated members; and,

(-b) means for securing the pairs of U-shaped elongated memberstogether.

7. The clamp assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) at least some of the grommets are each provided with a differentsized hole therethrough; and,

(b) the semi-circular holes in the U-shaped elongated members are evenlyspaced apart from each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Fletcher M868 Gest 138-112 Adler174-135 Robertson 248-68 Twarosk-i 24868 XR Jafie.

Torr l74-155 Hayman 24868 XR Girard 248-68 Great Britain.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A CLAMP ASSEMBLY, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OFALIGNED U-SHAPED ELONGATED MEMBERS DISPOSED WITH ONE MEMBER INVERTED ANDON TOP OF THE OTHER; (B) EACH OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBERS HAVING A PAIR OFSPACED APART SIDE WALLS; (C) EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS OF EACH U-SHAPEDMEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART,SEMI-CIRCULAR HOLES ALONG THE FREE EDGES THEREOF; (D) THE SEMI-CIRCULARHOLES IN THE ONE U-SHAPED MEMBER BEING ALIGNED WITH THE SEMI-CIRCULARHOLES IN THE OTHER U-SHAPED MEMBER TO FORM A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OFTRANSVERSELY SPACED CIRCULAR HOLES; (E) A TUBULAR GROMMET SEATED IN EACHOF THE CIRCULAR HOLES AND EXTENDED TRANSVERSELY OF THE U-SHAPED MEMBERS;(F) MEANS FOR SECURING THE CLAMPING MEMBERS TOGETHER; AND, (G) EACH OFTHE SEMI-CIRCULAR HOLES IN THE U-SHAPED MEMBERS HAVING A LATERALLYEXTENDING GROMMET ENGAGING FLANGE THEREABOUT DIMENSIONED SO THAT THEENDS OF THE GROMMETS WILL BE COMPRESSED THEREBY AGAINST ASSOCIATED TUBESWHEN THE CLAMPING MEMBERS ARE SECURED TOGETHER.